Bearings, bearing apparatus, and systems including the same

Abstract

A bearing ring for use in bearing apparatuses is disclosed. Such a bearing ring may comprise a body having a first array and a second array of bearing elements mounted to the body. The body may have an annular shape and the first array and the second array may be a concentric elliptical shapes, including circles. The body may comprise a plurality of bearing element pockets into which the bearing elements are disposed. In one aspect of the instant disclosure, the material of the bearing elements comprises polycrystalline diamond. A bearing apparatus comprising a first bearing ring and a second bearing ring is also disclosed. A drilling system for use in drilling subterranean formations employing the bearing apparatus is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A bearing ring comprising:
 a body including a first face and a second face opposing the first face; 
 a plurality of bearing elements comprising:
 a first array of bearing elements mounted to the body, wherein each bearing element of the first array of bearing elements is substantially centered along a common radial arc such that the first array of bearing elements exhibits a substantially circular shape; 
 wherein the first array of bearing elements is substantially equally, circumferentially spaced and wherein the first array of bearing elements includes a repeating pattern of bearing elements exhibiting at least two different diameters. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The bearing ring of  claim 1 , wherein the repeating pattern of bearing elements includes a repeating pattern of a bearing element exhibiting a first diameter circumferentially adjacent a bearing element exhibiting a second diameter. 
     
     
       3. The bearing ring of  claim 1 , wherein each bearing element comprises at least one of: polycrystalline diamond; tungsten carbide; silicon carbide; and cubic boron nitride. 
     
     
       4. The bearing ring of  claim 1 , wherein each bearing element comprises polycrystalline diamond compact. 
     
     
       5. The bearing ring of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bearing elements further comprises a second array of bearing elements mounted to the body. 
     
     
       6. The bearing ring of  claim 5 , wherein each of the bearing elements is disposed in a bearing element pocket defined in the body. 
     
     
       7. The bearing ring of  claim 6 , wherein each bearing element of the first array and each bearing element of the second array has a generally cylindrical shape, wherein each bearing element pocket has a generally cylindrical shape with a diameter that exceeds a diameter of each bearing element disposed therein. 
     
     
       8. The bearing ring of  claim 6 , wherein the bearing elements within the second array are circumferentially evenly spaced apart from one another and wherein the second array includes a repeating pattern of bearing elements exhibiting at least two different diameters. 
     
     
       9. The bearing ring of  claim 6 , wherein each bearing element comprises a top end that extends out of the bearing element pocket into which it is disposed, wherein the top end is beveled. 
     
     
       10. A bearing apparatus comprising:
 a first bearing ring, the first bearing ring comprising:
 a first body including a first face and a second face opposing the first face; 
 a first array of bearing elements mounted to the first body, wherein the first array of bearing elements includes at least two differently sized bearing elements, each bearing element of the first array of bearing elements being substantially centered along a common radial arc such that the first array of bearing elements mounted to the body of the first bearing ring exhibits a substantially circular shape, and wherein the first array of bearing elements mounted to the body of the first bearing ring includes a repeating pattern of bearing elements exhibiting at least two different diameters; and 
 
 a second bearing ring, the second bearing ring comprising:
 a second body including a first face and a second face opposing the first face; 
 a first array of bearing elements mounted to the second body including at least two differently sized bearing elements. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The bearing apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein each bearing element comprises at least one of: polycrystalline diamond; tungsten carbide; silicon carbide; and cubic boron nitride. 
     
     
       12. The bearing apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first bearing ring comprises a rotor and wherein the second bearing ring comprises a stator. 
     
     
       13. The bearing apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein:
 each bearing element of the first array of bearing elements mounted to the body of the second bearing ring is substantially centered along a common radial arc such that the first array of bearing elements mounted to the body of the second bearing ring exhibits a substantially circular shape; and 
 the first array of bearing elements mounted to the body of the second bearing ring includes a repeating pattern of bearing elements exhibiting at least two different diameters. 
 
     
     
       14. A drilling system for use in drilling subterranean formations, the drilling system comprising:
 a motor configured to apply a torque to a rotary drill bit, the motor operably coupled to a bearing apparatus; 
 wherein the bearing apparatus comprises:
 at least one bearing ring comprising:
 a body including a first face and a second face opposing the first face; 
 a first array of bearing elements mounted to the body, wherein each bearing element of the first array of bearing elements is substantially centered along a common radial arc such that the first array of bearing elements exhibits a substantially circular shape; and 
 wherein the first array of bearing elements is substantially equally, circumferentially spaced and wherein the first array of bearing elements includes a repeating pattern of bearing elements exhibiting at least two different diameters. 
 
 
 
     
     
       15. The drilling system of  claim 14 , wherein the bearing apparatus comprises a thrust bearing or a radial bearing. 
     
     
       16. The drilling system of  claim 14 , further comprising a second array of bearing elements mounted to the body. 
     
     
       17. The drilling system of  claim 16 , wherein the bearing elements of the second array are circumferentially evenly spaced apart from one another and wherein the second array of bearing elements includes a repeating pattern of bearing elements exhibiting at least two different diameters. 
     
     
       18. The drilling system of  claim 16 , wherein each of the bearing elements is disposed in a bearing element pocket defined in the body.